REVIEW: WE CAN BE HEROES by Anna Krauze, Camden Fringe at Lion and Unicorn Theatre 12 – 14 August 2024

‘gripping and illuminating’ ★★★★

The premiere of Anna Krauze’s latest play, proves yet again that she is able to wrap up difficult subject matter in entertaining theatre.  Krauze has something important to say and the result is devastating theatre that is also gripping and illuminating as well as being brutally honest. 

The play opens with Krauze in the role of Peanut, speaking directly to the audience about her career as an actor and how much she’d like to play the role of a superhero. Meanwhile, she explains, her brother is a superhero, but that he’s scared of everything; the rain, the thunder, and everything else. Here begins the tale, as Peanut’s pieces together a painting of his life from childhood to adolescence, a point he never made it past. It's shown from several perspectives of strategic people in his life as he seeks to find the answer to his fear; a doctor, a sex worker and a nun, all played by Krause.   

The story comes together after his death, in a note written to his sister. Here, the penny drops, and all becomes clear. Krause’s writing is very clever and keeps the audience unaware until the denouement. The two actors offer wonderful contrast, with Krause meticulously playing each of her roles, mainly using voice to give characterisation and never overplaying any of them. Her role as the sex worker is particularly brave offering a realistic portrayal. Later in her role as Peanut, she re-enacts having sex with a boyfriend  which is relevant to the play. It’s tastefully done, all praise to director Coral Tarran, for keeping this within the bounds of theatricality in an original way. It shows that Peanut has a healthy relationship with sex, which is in contrast to Boy. 

James Georgiou as Boy, is absolutely adorable, and very quickly makes his character someone to care about. He plays the earlier years with just his voice, his big doe eyes and his charming smile. Unlike many actors who overplay these roles, by using squirming physicality, he manages to embody the child within and let it shine outwards. Very impressive.  As the teenager, he does seem to be stuck in childhood but again, this is relevant to the play and the character’s fearfulness. 

When the ending comes, it is devastating, but it is a vital subject to air and keep airing, because sadly this isn’t going away, and it does take heroes and heroines like Krause to call it out and raise awareness.   

WE CAN BE HEROES by Anna Krauze, Camden Fringe at Lion and Unicorn Theatre 12 – 14 August 2024

Box Office https://camdenfringe.com/events/we-can-be-heroes/

Presented by Passing Stranger Theatre Company

Written by Anna Krauze.

Directed by Coral Tarran.

Cast:

Anna Krauze as Peanut

 James Georgiou as Boy

Keep in touch with the company:

Facebook: passingstrangertheatre

Twitter: PassStrangerTC

Instagram passingstrangertheatre

Web: annakrauze.co.uk/passingstrangertheatre